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See what happened at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in 2011 thanks to your support. Como Friends

A verified US-registered nonprofit

  • 464
    Donors
  • 1
    Fundraiser
  • 209
    Fans

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory--making Minnesota family memories for more than a century.

Because of you, 10,000 tulips bloomed in the Sunken Garden last spring…

three bears and thirteen penguins found a place to call home after floodwaters ravaged the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, North Dakota…

four orangutans got their flu shots...

and the Campaign for Como filled its final funding gap, securing more than $18.8 million, and making it possible to break ground on The Japanese Gardens Experience, a beautiful new wing to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.

This year, your contributions to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory were critical to carrying forward our century-long mission, inspiring the public to see the value in all living things. With young families and school groups facing tough budget choices, your support made it possible for Como to welcome more than two million visitors, free of charge.

As you and your family make your end-of-year giving decisions, we hope you’ll consider adding Como Friends to your list of favorite charities. Gifts of any size can be put to work right away in the projects you care about most at Como—sowing the seeds for one of the five seasonal flower shows in the Sunken Garden, buying groceries for the polar bears and pinnepeds (who put away nearly 18 tons of fish every year), providing education programs that reach more than a half million children and adults, showing us all how to be better stewards of the earth’s amazing plants and animals.

Thank you for all you did for Como in 2011. We look forward to welcoming you and two million more visitors in 2012.

Happy New Year!

Updates and Donor Comments

  1. Laura ColemanLaura Coleman 11/17/2011 at 12:29 PM ET
    Thanks for making Sparky's day! Give to the... Thanks for making Sparky's day! Give to the Maxers donated more than $11,000 to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Thank you!
  2. Jaclyn DavernJaclyn Davern 11/17/2011 at 12:15 AM ET
    i love taking my daughter there....happy to share what i loved as a kid!
  3. Darrell ThorstensonDarrell Thorstenson 11/16/2011 at 11:46 PM ET
    A real gem of St Paul
  4. Nicole M WoodNicole M Wood 11/16/2011 at 11:42 PM ET
    We love the affordable fun and learning experiences. We have a picture of our daughter on each birthday sitting on the turtle statue. Our favorite animals are the giraffes!
  5. Julie GoldsmithJulie Goldsmith 11/16/2011 at 11:19 PM ET
    We love the gorillas!!!
  6. Diane LynchDiane Lynch 11/16/2011 at 10:51 PM ET
    I had the opportunity to be an interpretor for this great organization. Volunteers are treated like gold! The staff are extremely knowledgeable and inspiring. We have them to thank for making this zoo a terrific investment!
  7. Barbara BreuerBarbara Breuer 11/16/2011 at 08:58 PM ET
    I have gone to Como as a kid and because of seeing the animals there, I have spent my life trying to help all kinds of animals
  8. Jill EricksonJill Erickson 11/16/2011 at 08:20 PM ET
    Jan and all the como friends who help to put on zooboo are amazing! Thanks for all your time and effort!!
  9. Jane M.Jane M. 11/16/2011 at 07:35 PM ET
    Como Zoo is one of my favorite places. I'm happy to support them.
  10. Marion HollyMarion Holly 11/16/2011 at 04:34 PM ET
    Como is a community asset that everybody loves. Thanks for helping Como Zoo and Conservatory.
  11. Laura ColemanLaura Coleman 11/16/2011 at 03:27 PM ET
    You've contributed more than $6,000 to Como... You've contributed more than $6,000 to Como Friends today. That calls for another trick from Sparky!
  12. Laura ColemanLaura Coleman 11/16/2011 at 02:10 PM ET
    Sparky is thrilled by your generosity! Thanks to your contributions, Como Friends raised more than $5,000 before noon! Give to the Max Day is off to a great start. Thanks for showing your love for Como!
  13. Nina Hale and Dylan HicksNina Hale and Dylan Hicks 11/16/2011 at 01:51 PM ET
    Thanks for being the last (or one of the last) free zoos in the country!
  14. Debbie AndersonDebbie Anderson 11/16/2011 at 01:35 PM ET
    You do a Wonderful job for the Zoo, the Animals & for all your visitors & fans!!!
  15. Debbie AndersonDebbie Anderson 11/16/2011 at 01:26 PM ET
    I have loved Como Zoo since I was a baby!! I still feel Como is better than the MN Zoo which is a great zoo too. I Love Sparky & at 3 yrs old (1962) I named my dog after Sparky. The Original!! Como you will always be in my heart!!
  16. Robert SothernRobert Sothern 11/16/2011 at 12:42 PM ET
    I agree with all the other wonderful things that have been said about this jewel of a zoo!
  17. Laura MerriamLaura Merriam 11/16/2011 at 12:16 PM ET
    I am looking forward to the new Japanese Garden pavillion and entrance!
  18. Julie Ann NevillJulie Ann Nevill 11/16/2011 at 10:45 AM ET
    Proud to support Como, and their future growth!
  19. Patrick HeffernanPatrick Heffernan 11/16/2011 at 10:18 AM ET
    Como is an amazing place. A great place for young and old to enjoy and learn while having a great time seeing all of the exhibits.
  20. Gloria MottGloria Mott 11/16/2011 at 09:51 AM ET
    I love Como, enjoyed it many times as a kid
  21. Jackie StichaJackie Sticha 11/16/2011 at 08:59 AM ET
    Our family loves Sparky, Buzz & Neil polar bear, and the Japanese Garden. We support Como because it is FREE and serves more families in MN than any other arts and culture destination.
  22. Nancy NelsonNancy Nelson 11/15/2011 at 03:13 PM ET
    There's no place better for the whole family to have fun, learn something new and be amazed at the antics of the polar bears, brown bears, seals, orangutans, giraffes, lions, tigers and more! And especially in the winter, the Conservatory is a wonderful refuge of color! Como depends on everyone's generosity to keep it so special!
  23. Carol RademacherCarol Rademacher 06/30/2011 at 08:21 AM ET
    I have loved Como since I wqas young and it was always a great inexpensive place to take a family and have a wonderful day.
  24. Andy BrownAndy Brown 11/16/2010 at 08:43 PM ET
    It's great to see the matching funds--makes an easy decision even easier.
  25. Wendy ArmitageWendy Armitage 11/16/2010 at 11:25 AM ET
    We are so lucky to have Como Zoo and Conservatory in our community - show your love by making a donation today - every penny counts! Thanks!

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